Senior Staff Electrical Engineer - FlatSat

Airbus Ventures; Westminster, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 184,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Generous benefits package incl. health

Job summary

CesiumAstro is seeking a Senior Staff Electrical Engineer to architect, build, and manage the FlatSat infrastructure, aligning flight hardware, software, and ground systems to mirror the spacecraft mission. The FlatSat acts as a comprehensive, end-to-end integration environment for rapid development and risk reduction.

The role leads technical direction, configuration management, and cross-functional coordination across flight software, hardware, RF, payload, and ground teams to enable thorough

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 15 years of experience in spacecraft integration, systems engineering, or hardware/software test environments.
• Hands-on experience with satellite subsystems and avionics.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft power, communications, command & data handling, and ground interfaces.
• Experience designing or supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or integration testbeds.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and system diagrams.
• Proven ability to operate in fast-paced, evolving technical environments.

Responsibilities

• Define architecture, configuration, and roadmap for the FlatSat environment.
• Develop system-level integration plans covering flight hardware, avionics, software, and ground interfaces.
• Ensure FlatSat accurately represents mission configuration and operational scenarios.
• Establish infrastructure to support full mission simulations and end-to-end testing.
• Design and sometimes build custom GSE and test interfaces.
• Oversee mechanical, electrical, and network integration of FlatSat hardware.
• Define power, comms, data handling, and environmental support architecture.
• Ensure maintainability, scalability, and reliability of the FlatSat system.
• Plan and execute system integration campaigns.
• Coordinate across flight software, hardware, RF, payload, and ground teams.
• Enable regression testing, mission rehearsals, anomaly reproduction, and validation testing.
• Drive configuration management and documentation discipline.
• Establish procedures for safe operations, access control, and hardware handling.
• Manage upgrades and configuration changes as flight hardware evolves.
• Track risks, integration issues, and system limitations.
• Support design reviews, test readiness reviews, and mission readiness reviews.

Skills

Satellite subsystems

Avionics

Spacecraft power

Ground interfaces

Schematics reading

Fast-paced environments

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field

Tools

Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL)

Integration testbeds

GSE design/construction

Job description

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are seeking a Senior Staff Electrical Engineer to architect, build, and manage our FlatSat infrastructure. This role owns the planning, execution, and continuous evolution of a system that mirrors the spacecraft and integrates flight hardware, flight software, ground systems, and GSE into a complete mission representation.

The FlatSat is not a lab bench — it is a system nearly as complex as the flight vehicle itself. In some ways, it is more complex due to the integration of ground interfaces, support equipment, and test orchestration.

The FlatSat Lead will be responsible for technical direction, configuration control, infrastructure development, and cross-functional coordination to ensure the FlatSat enables rapid development, risk reduction, and mission success.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define the architecture, configuration, and roadmap for theFlatSatenvironment
• Develop system-level integration plans covering flight hardware, avionics, software, and ground interfaces
• Ensure theFlatSat accuratelyrepresentsmission configuration and operational scenarios
• Establish infrastructure to support full mission simulations and end-to-end testing
• Design and sometimes personally build custom Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and test interfaces
• Oversee mechanical, electrical, and network integration ofFlatSathardware
• Define power, communications, data handling, and environmental support architecture
• Ensure maintainability, scalability, and reliability of theFlatSatsystem
• Plan and execute system integration campaigns
• Coordinate across flight software, hardware, RF, payload, and ground teams
• Enable regression testing, mission rehearsals, anomaly reproduction, and validation testing
• Drive configuration management and documentation discipline
• Establish procedures for safe operations, access control, and hardware handling
• Manage upgrades and configuration changes as flight hardware evolves
• Track risks, integration issues, and system limitations
• Support design reviews, test readiness reviews, and mission readiness reviews

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
• 15 years of experience in spacecraft integration, systems engineering, or hardware/software test environments
• Hands-on experience working with satellite subsystems and avionics
• Strong understanding of spacecraft power, communications, command & data handling, and ground interfaces
• Experience designing or supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or integration testbeds
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and system diagrams
• Proven ability tooperatein fast-paced, evolving technical environments

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience leading integration efforts for small satellite or spacecraft programs
• Experience designing custom GSE
• Familiarity withflatsator spacecraft system test campaigns, including Hardware-in-the-Loop labs (HIL/HWIL)
• Knowledge of RF and payload integration
• Experience supporting environmental test or mission rehearsals
• Background in high-reliability or mission-critical systems

$184,000 - $225,000 a year

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard torace, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.